Tom has over thirty-three years of research experience
in the field of organosilicon chemistry. He received his undergraduate
chemistry education at Purdue University, a master's degree from Central
Michigan University and his Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry from the
Open University in England. Tom's work has allowed him to make significant
contributions to the field in the areas of interfacial science, scientific
computing, and most recently in the biology and biotechnology of silicon.
He holds academic positions in both the US and abroad. He is a Fellow of
the Royal Society of Chemistry and president-elect of the American Chemical
Society the largest scientific society in the world. Today, Tom's primary
focus is education and putting a human face to chemistry.

Tom is actively involved in education at all levels, K-
post graduate. He is the immediate past chairman of the board of trustees
for Delta College, graduate research advisor, K-12 classroom friend, and
an advocate for all teachers.

For fun - Tom enjoys photography. He specializes in black
& white, film photography using large wooden field cameras (8x10 inch
negatives). He maintains and uses a professional level darkroom in his
home to develop and print his images using techniques and formulas that
date back to the mid-1800.

9:30 "The synthesis of (5E,7E)-tetradeca-5,7-dienoic acid:
An intermediate in the <-oxidation of conjugated linoleic
acid," Kwabena Sarpong and Dean Cuebas, Department of Chemistry,
Missouri State University, Springfield, MO

9:45 "The synthesis of (5E,7Z)-tetradeca-5,7-dienoic acid:
A compound to study the geometric specificity of 3,5-2,4-dienoyl-CoA isomerase," Randy Grout and Dean Cuebas, Department of Chemistry, Missouri State University,
Springfield, MO